Friday, August 31, 2018

The Flat Five, whose 2016 debut It’s A World Of Love and Hope drew widespread critical acclaim, have sold out their gig at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn tomorrow night. The band members have years of experience in various music genres, and for this project they focus on glorious harmonies and breezy, retro arrangements.

Two of those Flat Five musicians, Casey McDonough and Scott Ligon, and will be joining WXRT air personality Terri Hemmert, Phil Angotti, EXPO ’76, Live To Sing Choir, and other guests at Fitzgerald’s on September 16 for a celebration of Val’s Halla record store owner Val, who passed away earlier thus summer. On the September 12, Scott Ligon will host an All-Star Freakout, at FitzGerald’s.

Zany garage rockers The Woggles have a gig tomorrow night at Reggie’s on State Street, just south of downtown.

Paul McCartney will release his latest album, Egypt Station, next Friday. That’s the same day we’ll see These Days from Paul Carrack; Raise Vibration from Lenny Kravitz; and In The Blue Light from Paul Simon. A week after that will bring new efforts from The Chills; Alejandro Escovedo; and Paul Weller.

This year’s Chicago Fringe Festival kicked off yesterday and will run through Monday, September 3 in various locations in the Jefferson Park neighborhood on Chicago’s northwest side. Over 24 shows are scheduled to take place.

It will be a busy weekend in Jefferson Park, as the annual Polonia Festival takes place just outside the Copernicus Theatre, which is a quick walk from the Jefferson Park Metra/CTA station. Tributosaurus will wrap up the festival by covering Eric Clapton on Monday night.

Tributosaurus will become Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young on September 5 at Martyrs.

I just bought a copy of noted artist/writer Bill Morrison’s graphic novel treatment of The Beatles’ animated movie Yellow Submarine. Morrison is president of the National Cartoonists Society and was recently named editor of Mad Magazine. Published by Titan Comics, this colorful and faithful version celebrates the 50th anniversary of Yellow Submarine’s release.

The Petty Kings will bring their tribute to Tom Petty to The Prairie Arts Center in Schaumburg on Saturday, September 22 as part of a double bill with the ‘70s FM Radio Rock band. I’ve seen The Smithereens, American English, and The Neverly Brothers at the Prairie Arts Center, and it’s a classy venue.

City Winery Chicago recently announced it will host A John Lennon Birthday Retrospective at 1:00 p.m. on October 7.

The Bookends, the 1960s-inspired garage rock duo of bassist-vocalist Sharon Lee and guitarist-vocalist Karen Lynn, have just released their debut album Far Away But Around. It’s available on the Dead Pulse website.

Todd Rundgren will join forces with the Chicago Sinfonietta for a Night Of Harmony II on September 8 at House Of Blues. The concert is a benefit for Rundgren’s Spirit Of Harmony Foundation, which helps provide music education for youths.

The Kaleidoscope Eye 2.0 Festival of Modern Psychedelia is coming to Live Wire on Milwaukee Avenue on September 8. The first annual Kaleidoscope Eye at this same venue last year was a mind-bending success.

Minstrel Palooza Live returns to Durty Nellie’s in Palatine on September 22 for another gathering of musicians related in various way to the Minstrels Music Store in Niles. Scheduled acts include Gus Adonis; Kevin Lee and The Kings, Cracked Actor; Van Go; Todd Money Experience; Larry Mitchell and Dave Ulrich; Charlie Victor; and Tiger Bite. Admission is free, and the show starts at 1:00 p.m.

Friday, August 24, 2018

Major newspapers are carrying a story about a London-based Rolling Stones fan who has a acquired a long-lost recording of Mick Jagger and Carly Simon singing together on a ballad believed to be named “Fragile.” Still, I’m more interested in a thread on the Hollies Appreciation Facebook Area page by some of its most frequent contributors. First, Knut Skyberg shared a photo and track list for an upcoming Hollies tribute album called Wishyouawish on the Australian indie label Teensville.

Anthony Edward Marsden noted that he had never heard of one of the songs, “Coming From The Ground.” According to Cameron Burns, Hollies founding members Allan Clarke and Graham Nash wrote the song for the Swedish band The Lee Kings (no relation to Chicago’s Kevin Lee and The Kings) back in the 1960s. Clarke and Nash, along with fellow Hollies Tony Hicks and Bobby Elliot are rumored to have joined in on the recording. I’ll be following the Hollies Appreciation Facebook Area as well as Teensville Records pages to learn more about Wishyouawish. So far, I don’t see a release date.

The Seventh Annual Chicago Women’s Funny Festival kicked off yesterday and is scheduled to keep males and females laughing through Sunday at Stage773 at 1225 W. Belmont. The various shows will include standup, sketch, improv, and musical comedy.

The I AM Art and Music Festival will mark its 10th anniversary of spotlighting local talent tomorrow from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at The House Of Blues in downtown Chicago. There will be performances by Thomas Nicholas Band, Bodega, Gorilla Social, Oakmen, Sin Anestesia, Straight Skinny, Weird Beard and Wilde.

Congratulations to the organizers of last weekend’s YippieFest on successfully carrying out their second annual celebration of theatre, comedy, music, and performance art at The Prop Thtr. Modeled after the late Mary-Arrchie Theatre’s long-running Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins Festival, YippieFest had a full house when I dropped by on Saturday night. Abbie vets Famous In The Future offered another set of skits and songs, and was particularly impressive on its clever and biting opening political satire. Carla Hayden and James Moeller of Black Forest Theatre created a hypnotic set of alt rock, with assistance from violinist Nura A. Standup comedian Trevor Gertonson had some funny observations about growing up as a goth rocker, horror movies, and how to handle dangerous pets; and The Agency Theatre Collective hosted a freewheeling open mic set. It was nice to see this counter-culture tradition will live on.

Skokie’s Backyard Bash kicked off today and will feature performances by Sister Hazel, Foghat, and Tributosaurus as the weekend progresses.

I thoroughly enjoyed Mark Olsen’s Los Angeles Times article (also carried in the Chicago Tribune earlier this week) about the new film Juliet, Naked. Arriving in theatres today, Juliet Naked is a rock and roll comedy based on the novel of that name by Nick Hornsby. Olsen’s fascinating and extensively researched piece centered on the various musicians who were enlisted to create new music that sounds like it sprang from the alternative rock of the 1990s. There’s a quote from Robyn Hitchcock that’s one of the best descriptions of the creative process I’ve ever heard. Juliet, Naked got three-star reviews in the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune today.Wizard World Chicago Comic Con has returned to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont and runs through Sunday. Celebrity guests include David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson from The X-Files; Nichelle Nichols from Star Trek; James Marsters from Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Torchwood, and Smallville; Michael Rooker and Pom Klementieff from the Guardians Of The Galaxy franchise; Ernie Hudson from Ghostbusters; and several cast members from Outlander.

This year’s Chicago Fringe Festival will take place over the weekend of August 30 through September 3 in various locations in the Jefferson Park neighborhood on Chicago’s northwest side. Over 24 shows are scheduled to take place.

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Wizard World Chicago opens tomorrow at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont and will cast its magical spell through Sunday. The annual event brings together self-professed nerds, sci-fi devotees, graphic novels readers, art lovers, TV fans, and anyone who embraces the more adventurous paths of modern culture. Prices for a four-day pass and single day tickets vary, so check out the website for schedule and ticket information.

This year’s celebrity guests include David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson from The X-Files; Nichelle Nichols from the very first Star Trek; James Marsters from Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Torchwood, and Smallville; Michael Rooker and Pom Klementieff from the Guardians Of The Galaxy franchise; and Ernie Hudson from Ghostbusters. Several cast members from the Outlander TV series will be on hand for the opening tomorrow. It’s disappointing there are no Doctor Who cast members this year, but there were a number of them in 2017.

Wizard World Chicago also offers aisle after aisle of corporate and independent vendors selling comic books, t shirts, action figures, and other fantasy/sci-fi related artifacts. In the huge marketplace dubbed Artists Alley, up-and-coming artists and writers compete for attention. There’s also a fun, masquerade atmosphere as people dress up in superhero or villain costumes, and gladly pose for photos. Where else are you going to see Batman and Princess Leia sipping 32-oz. Cokes together, or Captain Jack Sparrow and Harry Potter walking side by side.

Friday, August 17, 2018

As I write this, the second annual YippieFest is underway at the Prop Thtr. Carrying on the tie-dyed tradition of the late Mary-Arrchie Theatre’s long-running Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins festival, this counter-culture bash will feature theatre, live music, short films, comedy, and other forms of performance art during its Friday through Sunday run. Famous In The Future, the skit and song comedy group that performed at every single Abbie Fest, are leading the way, and will be unveiling a brand new revue at 8:30 p.m. tomorrow night. (Full disclosure: I was a member of Famous In The Future for several years.) Other Abbie vets who’ll be on hand include Rush Pearson, Citizens Relief, Black Forest Theatre, Trained Monkey Productions, DB Theatre, and whitewolfsonicprincess. The schedule is available on the official YippieFest website; Prop Thtr is located at 3502 N. Elston.

Pearl Jam makes a triumphant return to Wrigley Field tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. The Chicago Cubs currently have the best record in the National League, so Eddie Vedder, Pearl Jam lead vocalist and one of the biggest Cubs fans in rock and roll, should be in good spirits.

Wizard World Chicago Comic Con returns to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont August next Thursday through Sunday, August 23 - 26. Celebrity guests include David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson from The X-Files; Nichelle Nichols from Star Trek; James Marsters from Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Torchwood, and Smallville; Michael Rooker and Pom Klementieff from the Guardians Of The Galaxy franchise; Ernie Hudson from Ghostbusters; and several cast members from Outlander.

Tickets went on sale today for Black Uhuru and Onesty at Reggie’s Rock Club on September 22; Nicki Bluhm and Gil Landry at Lincoln Hall on November 11; Lindsey Buckingham at Athenaeum Theatre on October 17; Echo and The Bunnymen at The Vic on November 24; and Lemon Twigs at Metro on January 25.

The official website for Shoes is offering assistance for anyone who’s had trouble ordering the power pop band’s new Black Vinyl Shoes Anthology 1973 – 1978 3-CD set on Amazon. In order to overcome a few Amazon glitches, go directly to this page.

Death Cab For Cutie’s latest album Thank You For Today came out today. The happy-go-lucky band will perform at the Auditorium on October 7.

The 210 Live club in Highwood is holding a JB Ritchie Benefit Concert this Sunday.

City Winery Chicago recently announced it will host A John Lennon Birthday Retrospective at 1:00 p.m. on October 7. Other shows coming up at that venue include Justin Hayward from The Moody Blues on August 26; The Lotus Kings doing a tribute to Santana on August 27; Great Moments In Vinyl offering The Jimi Hendrix Experience on September 11; and Dar Williams with Lucy Wainwright Roche on September 16.

There will be a special advance screening of David Schalliol’s documentary The Area at The Gene Siskel Film Center on August 23 as part of the 24th Annual Black Harvest Film Festival. The Area concerns activist Deborah Payne’s efforts to stop a freight company from displacing hundreds of families on Chicago’s south side. It will return for a regular run from September 14 – 27 at Gene Siskel Center.

This year’s Chicago Fringe Festival will take place over the weekend of August 30 through September 3 in various locations in the Jefferson Park neighborhood on Chicago’s northwest side. Over 24 shows are scheduled to take place.

Chicago Filmmakers will present the Chicago Premiere of director Casey Puccini’s satirical look at filming an indie movie I Don’t Care on August 25. The cast includes Sasha Gioppo, Bryn Packard, Kevin Stangler, Christine Vrem-Yostie, Cameron Worden, Brian Wiebe, and Taylor Wood. Mr. Packard was a member of the Chicago-based skit comedy group Famous In The Future some years back.

Fans of the late Tom Petty can enter a contest on the Omaze site to attend a listening party with his band The Heartbreakers at The Clubhouse, a secret recording and rehearsing location. Money raised will support The Midnight Mission, a charitable organization that helps homeless people in the Los Angeles area. The more money you donate, the better your chances of winning.

Fans in Chicago can also honor the singer-guitarist’s legacy at Flirting With Time - A Tom Petty Tribute at The Tonic Room on August 25. The event will feature Ryan Joseph Anderson, Dan Ingrenthron, Mike Holtz, Brian Morrisey, Jeremy Kay and special guests.

The Bookends, the 1960s-inspired garage rock duo of bassist-vocalist Sharon Lee and guitarist-vocalist Karen Lynn, have just released their debut album Far Away But Around. It’s available on the Dead Pulse website

Tributosaurus, one of Chicago most successful and ambitious tribute acts, will become AC/DC on Sunday August 26 at Skokie’s Backlot Bash, take on Eric Clapton at 7:30 p.m. on September 3 at Taste Of Polonia in Jefferson Park; and honor Crosby, Stills. Nash and Young at Wire in Berwyn on September 8.

The 60th Annual Chicago Air and Water Show takes place tomorrow and Sunday on the lakefront at North Avenue Beach. I know this isn’t rock and roll related, but I’ve had a lifetime fascination with planes since childhood, so I’ll be waiting for my favorite one—the P-51 Mustang to fly past tomorrow.

Friday, August 10, 2018

The Smashing Pumpkins will be playing to a hometown crowd next Monday and Tuesday at the United Center. Their opening act is the Emily Haines-led synth rock band Metric, so it’s going to be a potent double bill.

Step right up! Welcome to everyone who’s come to town for The Fest For Beatles Fans – Chicago this weekend at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont. The annual event kicked off this evening and will run through late Sunday night. Be sure to check out Chicago-based acts Ellis Clark and (possibly) Ary Paloma Jeebie; Jay Goeppner; and Phil Angotti and Friends at The Apple Jam Stage on the second floor. For a more extensive look at Fest For Beatles Fans - Chicago, see my post this past Wednesday.

Tickets went on sale today for the John Butler Trio at the Chicago Theatre on November 29; Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal at The Old Town School Of Music on November 9; Stanley Clarke at SPACE on November 6; Peter, Bjorn and John at Lincoln Hall on December 5; and Tom Rush at SPACE on November 18.

Emmylou Harris, Jackson Browne, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Colvin, Lila Downs, Steve Earle and Graham Nash will embark on The Lantern Tour together starting October 23 at the City Winery in Nashville, TN. Other stops include Washington, D.C., Collingswood, Boston, and New York. The series of acoustic concerts will benefit the Women’s Refugee Commission, which advocates on behalf of migrant and refugee families. No word yet on whether this will be coming to Chicago.

So I was a bit premature in stating here earlier that the Chicago-based trio Sunshine Boys have fully recovered from their various physical ailments. According to a recent email put out by the band, drummer Freda Love Smith is still recuperating from back surgery and isn’t quite ready to rejoin her mates. On a more cheerful note, the email announced the upcoming release of the Sunshine Boys’ stellar debut Blue Music in a limited-edition (250) blue vinyl package that includes lyrics and photos. The blue vinyl Blue Music will be available at “a couple of record stores picked out for celebratory performances.” Hopefully, we'll hear more on that soon.

The Rolling Stones are putting together a collection of vintage songs by their favorite blues artists, titled Confessin The Blues. Available as a two-CD set; a Volume 1 and Volume 2 LP set, or a special 5x 10 vinyl bookpack + six art card prints, Confessin The Blues will feature Chuck Berry, B.B. King, Howlin’ Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Elmore James, and Muddy Waters. Stones guitarist Ron Wood created the art for the cover. It will be released on November 9 but is available for pre-order on the Rolling Stones official store.

There will be a special advance screening of David Schalliol’s documentary The Area at The Gene Siskel Film Center on August 23 as part of the 24th Annual Black Harvest Film Festival. The film concerns activist Deborah Payne’s efforts to stop a freight company from displacing hundreds of families on Chicago’s south side. It will return for a regular run from September 14 – 27 at Gene Siskel Center.

This year’s Chicago Fringe Festival will take place over the weekend of August 30 through September 3 in various locations in the Jefferson Park neighborhood on Chicago’s northwest side.

Jay Goeppner and his Backdated Band will be performing a John Lennon Tribute on August 14 at the 210 Live club in Highwood. 210 also has a JB Ritchie Benefit concert coming up on August 19

Chicago Filmmakers will present the Chicago Premiere of director Casey Puccini’s satirical look at filming an indie movie I Don’t Care on August 25. The cast includes Sasha Gioppo, Bryn Packard, Kevin Stangler, Christine Vrem-Yostie, Cameron Worden, Brian Wiebe, and Taylor Wood. Mr. Packard was a member of the Chicago-based skit comedy group Famous In The Future some years back. Chicago Filmakers is located at 5720 N. Ridge Avenue in Chicago.

Speaking of Famous In The Future, (full disclosure: I was a member of this group for 20 years) they’ll be hosting their second annual YippieFest next weekend at the Prop Thtr on Chicago’s north side. I’ve been calling this the lovechild of the Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins festival that ran for 30 years at Mary-Arrchie Theatre, because Famous In The Future were Abbie Fest veterans. Look for a similar mix of theater, standup comedy, film, and live music.

Thursday, August 9, 2018

Fans of the late Tom Petty can enter a contest on the Omaze site to attend a listening party with his band The Heartbreakers at The Clubhouse, a secret recording and rehearsing location. Money raised will support The Midnight Mission, a charitable organization that helps homeless people in the Los Angeles area. The more money you donate, the better your chances of winning.

Fans in Chicago can also honor the singer-guitarist’s legacy at Flirting With Time - A Tom Petty Tribute at The Tonic Room on August 25. The event will feature Ryan Joseph Anderson, Dan Ingrenthron, Mike Holtz, Brian Morrisey, Jeremy Kay and special guests.

The New Duncan Imperials will be bringing their straw hats, off kilter sense of humor, and The Total Pro horns with them for their 10:00 p.m. gig tomorrow night at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn. According to a video posted on Facebook, the band has a new EP with an undetermined number of songs on it coming out soon.

Tomorrow is the release date for Diamond Boy from Enuff Z’nuff, and Wild! Wild! Wild! from Robbie Fulks and Linda Gail Lewis.

Over The Rhine, the alt rock/Americana band led by Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist will be at City Winery next Sunday.

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

The 42nd Annual Fest For Beatles Fans - Chicago takes place at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in suburban Rosemont this weekend, August 10–12. The event presents musicians, authors, artists, photographers, and music biz people who have some connection to to the most famous band in rock history. Many are accessible to fans in the general sense of watching them being interviewed in the Grand Ballroom, and on in face-to-face conversations at the autograph tables. It’s not unusual to spot these famous people walking through the crowd or chatting with fans.

There will be live performances in the Grand Ballroom by Peter and Jeremy—Peter Asher from Peter and Gordon and Jeremy Clyde from Chad and Jeremy; Roy Orbison Jr. and his band; Billy J. Kramer; Beatles tribute band Liverpool; The Weeklings; and Sandalwood Sitar. This year’s guest list also includes producer Jack Douglas; Abbey Road engineer Geoff Emerick; and Leslie Cavendish, who served as The Beatles’ hairdresser for eight years.

Terri Hemmert, mid-morning air personality and Breakfast With The Beatles host at radio station WXRT, will notch another year in her decades-long role of The Fest’s MC in Chicago. The Apple Jam Stage, a fairly new and very welcome addition to The Fest, will offer live performances on the second floor of The Hyatt. I would highly recommend checking out the sets by Ellis Clark and Ary Paloma Jeebie; Jay Goeppner; Phil Angotti and Friends; and Scott Erickson.

The Fest For BeatlesFans has a few marketplace areas with loads of music-related memorabilia. The marketplace is also the place to meet noted Beatles authors like Bruce Spizer, Vivek Tiwary, Jude S. Kessler, and Kit O’Toole. Tiwary will also be giving a presentation in The A/bbey Video Ballroom about the Fifth Beatle TV event he’s creating with Bravo and Sonar Entertainment, as well his Jagged Little Pill stage show. Attendees can join in the fun by competing in Beatles sound-alike concerts and an art competition, and you’re welcome to join the musicians and singers who hang out for hours around the stairs in the lower level.

Friday, August 3, 2018

Let me extend a Broken Hearted Toy welcome to everyone who’s in Chicago for the annual Lollapalooza festival in Grant Park. I didn’t see any copies of Innerview at the downtown Reckless Records this time around. The indie publication usually puts out an extensive guide to the festival. WXRT 93.1FM will have live coverage and interviews from throughout the weekend. If you happen to be in town and want to drop by, forget it. Lollapalooza has been sold out for months.

The Baseball Project, a national pastime related band composed of music veterans, including Scott McCaughey from The Minus Five and Young Fresh Fellows; Mike Mills and Peter Buck from R.E.M.; Steve Wynn from The Dream Syndicate; and Linda Pitmon from The Miracle 3, will be performing at SPACE in Evanston tomorrow night. Sunshine Boys, back in action after some medical issues kept them sidelined for awhile, are the opening act. By the way, “Only A Million Miles,” from Sunshine Boys’ debut Blue Music, remains a serious contender for best song of 2018.

Tickets went on sale today for Courtney Barnett and Waxahatchie at The Riviera Theatre on October 9, and for Lydia Loveless at SPACE on September 24.

The 24th Annual Black Harvest Film Festival kicks off tomorrow at the Gene Siskel Film Center and will run through August 29.

The Bookends, the 1960s-inspired garage rock duo of bassist-vocalist Sharon Lee and guitarist-vocalist Karen Lynn, have just released their debut album Far Away But Around. It’s available on the Dead Pulse website.

The unpredictable and always fun New Duncan Imperials have a rare live gig next Friday, August 10 at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn.

Shemekia Copeland’s new album America’s Child, which long-time Chicago Tribune music critic Howard Reich praised in a full-length article this past Wednesday, is now available. Reich noted that Copeland was “hellbent on sending a message,” particularly on the track “Ain’t Got Time For Hate.”

Over The Rhine, the alt rock/Americana band led by Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist, is based in Ohio but travels to Chicago on a regular basis. They’ll be at City Winery next Sunday, August 14. Moody Blues vocalist Justin Hayward will be at City Winery on August 26, and on August 27, The Lotus Kings will perform their Santana Tribute.

Enuff Z’nuff will release their new album Diamond Boy on August 10; Robbie Fulks and Linda Gail Lewis will release Wild! Wild! Wild! on August 10; and Death Cab For Cutie will drop Thank You For Today on August 17.

Todd Rundgren will join forces with the Chicago Sinfonietta for A Night Of Harmony II on September 8 at House Of Blues. The concert is a benefit for Rundgren’s Spirit Of Harmony Foundation, which helps provide music education for youths.

Those of us who were at Little Steven’s Underground Garage showcase at Durty Nellie’s in Palatine a number of years ago still remember how much fun it was to watch the garage rock band The Woggles perform. (The Zombies, Mooney Suzuki, The Gore Gore Girls, and Catfish Haven were also on that bill.) The Woggles will be at Reggies on State Street on September 1, along with Barrence Whitfield and The Savages and Baby Money and The Down Payments.

Jay Goeppner and his Backdated Band will be performing a John Lennon Tribute on August 14 at the 210 Live club in Highwood. 210 also has a JB Ritchie Benefit concert coming up on August 19.

Toots And The Maytals have a gig coming up at Thalia Hall next Wednesday, August 8.

The Fest For Beatles Fans returns to the Chicago area next weekend, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont. Guests include Peter Asher of Peter and Gordon and Jeremy Clyde of Chad and Jeremy; Roy Orbison, Jr.; Billy J. Kramer; producer Jack Douglas, Beatles hairdresser Leslie Cavebdish, and Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick. WXRT DJ Terri Hemmert will once again serves as Master Of Ceremonies. The Weeklings; Liverpool; Phil Angotti and Friends; and Scott Erickson will be performing a The Fest.

Looking ahead, Wizard World Chicago Comic Con will be at the Donald Stephens Center in Rosemont August 23 - 26, and YippieFest, a celebration of theatre, stand-up comedy, performance art, film, and live music will mark its second year at Prop Thtr on the weekend of August 17-19.

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About This Blog

Broken Hearted Toy is an eclectic celebration of creativity, with over 2,000 posts since 2009.

It's based in Chicago but covers power pop, garage, cutting-edge, and 1960s rock from around the globe; along with occasional bits on art; literature; and theatre.

Top of the hill is a nice place to be at. - - - "Elevated Observations" by The Hollies.

Check out some of my previoius creative endeavors.

Sunday Morning Coffee With Jeff was a weekly Internet show created by and starring Jeff Kelley. It mostly consisted of comedy bits and obscure 1960s garage rock set to vintage TV and film clips but also spotlighted entertainment events around Illinois.

My wife Pam and I created a handful of series (each episode was about two minutes long) that were shown on Sunday Morning Coffee With Jeff. They included Manchester Gallery (see description below); Old Days, which I hosted in the persona of a cranky old man named Fritz Willoughby; Roving Reporter, where I played the clueless title character; What's With Terry?, a performance arts program; and Hanging With The Hollies, a takeoff on Breakfast With The Beatles.

I've also worked with Kelley and Willy Deal on comedy clips, and with Kelley and David Metzger on films for the annual Nightmare on Chicago Street Halloween festival in Elgin.

I'm particularly proud of this 21-episode comedy series Pam and I created for Sunday Morning Coffee With Jeff. Each installment was a few minutes long, and featured me portraying Terrence, the curator of a pop culture museum.

I was a staff writer for this Chicago-based magazine from 1987 to 2015. The Illinois Entertainer has been covering rock music for over 40 years, and can be found in stores and entertainment venues, as well as in an online edition.

Chicago Art Machine was a web-based publishing company run by Editor-in-Chief, Kathryn Born, and Managing Editor, Robin Dluzen, that included Chicago Art Magazine, Chicago DIY Film,Chicago Performance And Trailers, and TINC. Most of my submissions appeared in Chicago DIY Film and Chicago Performance And Trailers, although I contributed to all the online Chicago Art Machine publications.

I was a writer and performer with this local comedy group from 1989 to 2009. Famous In The Future continues to perform in the Chicago area, and appeared at every one of the Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sinstheatre festivals that were held at the Mary-Arrchie Theatre. Since the closing of the Mary-Arrchie Theatre a few years ago, Famous In The Future has carried on the tradition by presenting Yippie Fest each year in August.

I'm an active member of SCBWI, (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and have written two Middle Grade fantasy novels. I've just finished a YA/paranormal novel, and also wrote a suspense/satiric novel that takes place amidst Chicago's alternative music scene in the mid-1980s.

Broken Hearted Toy

The blog title comes from the line, "I'm the brokenhearted toy you play with" in the song "I Can't Let Go" by The Hollies. One of the great original British Invasion bands, The Hollies continue to have an immense influence on power pop bands to this day, and have finally been inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Here is a video of "I Can't Let Go" being performed in 1966.